Ukrainian doctor dreams of working in Nova Scotia
Dr. Daria Peremot is a trained otolaryngologist, more commonly known as an ear, nose and throat specialist.
For the last year, she’s been working in a cafe in Iceland after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but she wants more.
“My main goal is to go to Canada, to Nova Scotia and work as a doctor,” says Peremot.
To do that, she’s been applying for visas, permits and applications to come here to live and work.
Peremot says her approvals have been granted but her nine-year-old son doesn’t yet have permission to come to Canada.
”How can I come without my son? What would I do without him,” she asks.
Nova Scotia's health-care system has been dealing with severe staffing shortages for years.
The Nova Scotia government has said it’s working with public health and regulatory colleges to streamline licensing and support for Ukrainian health-care professionals.
A program was established to focus on bringing those professionals to the province.
Julia Guk, from Ukraine, is the program manager.
“Ukrainian healthcare professionals, most of them, are coming with family members and we want to learn how to support their families [who are] coming and not just the health-care professionals,” Guk said back in July.
Peremot originally planned to come to Nova Scotia with her mother and mother-in-law. Her relatives, both cardiologists, have changed their minds.
“I think they will stay in Iceland because they like Iceland and they have a house here and they have social support here,” Dr. Peremot says.
She, however, is determined to make Nova Scotia her home. But the long delays are making her wonder if the feeling is mutual.
“Of course I’m looking forward, but I don’t think Canada is looking forward for me,” Peremot says.
Time will tell if she’s right.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE | Johnston calls allegations of bias 'quite simply false' as MPs question him on foreign interference role
Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston is being questioned by MPs at committee about his role, his report into election meddling, his decision against a public inquiry, and allegations of a conflict of interest.

What's behind the increase in orca-human interactions, boat attacks? Here’s what an expert thinks
The number of interactions between killer whales and humans has increased alarmingly in recent years. CTVNews.ca asked an expert to explain the reasons behind the increase in interactions, explore the types of encounters, and examine the implications for both humans and killer whales.
Internal docs suggest Trudeau wants China blocked from Pacific Rim trade deal
An internal document suggests Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants China kept out of a Pacific Rim trade bloc, despite the Liberals publicly insisting it would welcome anyone who meets the trade deal's standards.
Prince Harry testifies the tabloids destroyed his childhood, but fails to recall specific stories
Prince Harry entered a courtroom witness box Tuesday, swearing to tell the truth in testimony against a tabloid publisher he accuses of phone hacking and other unlawful snooping.
Feds warn 2023 on track to be the worst fire season ever seen in Canada
Canada's emergency preparedness minister says images of wildfires burning across the country are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada and the current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity.
Parents being stretched thin saving up for children's education: survey
Many Canadian parents are stretching themselves thin — even going as far as to postpone their retirement in some cases — in order to help pay for their children’s education, according to a new survey.
Multiple investigations underway after B.C. woman’s suspicious death in Australia
Police in Australia are investigating the suspicious death of a woman who used to live in Surrey, BC, after her body was found in her apartment on the outskirts of Sydney.
Ukraine dam collapse triggers emergency, Moscow and Kyiv trade blame
The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow controls collapsed Tuesday, triggering floods, endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant and threatening drinking water supplies as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blamed each other for the emergency.
What is the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine and what happened?
A huge Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine was breached on Tuesday, unleashing floodwaters across the war zone.